Very rare that you hear such an honestly angry voice within the mainstream media. Olbermann is not happy with the direction that his country has gone in while under the Bush Administration (hear, hear) and he is not afraid to voice it. Just listen to this small segment from one of his latest Independence Day eve rant.
Olbermann is asking Bush and Cheney to resign. You can watch the full rant here. He kinda reminds of this fellow, from the 1976 film "Network."
Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 15)
1. BRAVO JEFF!!!! Keith Olbermann has been an American hero from day one of the fiasco of Republican attack on our nation's fundamental values - often a lone voice on TV telling the truth amid a bunch of conservative lying "pundits." Jeff, you as a Canadian are also becoming a powerful voice for all of us in the USA who wonder "what the hell happened to our country?" This blog is a perfect example. I do not watch TV, and truly appreciate the chance to hear Keith EXACTLY express a majority of Americans' and my opinion.
Time and time again, we have seen the moral bankruptcy of the White House and the Republicans in Congress. They could care less about 90% of America, as long as the top 10% get more and more wealth, and have turned our nation into the most isolated and hated nation in the world.
Make no mistake, its not just the crooks, liars and thieves in the White House who have caused such harm, but also their "good ole boy" network of Republican cronies in Congress. We've all watched as they have subverted every Democratic Congressional attempt to carry out the mandates of the American people.
In 2008, it will not only be necessary to get the Republicans out of the White House, but also out of Congress. They have done almost unimaginable damage to our nation, and certainly cannot be trusted to be part of our united effort to bring this country back to its core values, and to restore our place as a respected member of the world community.
Happy 4'th everyone - and remember, better days our coming, but only if we do our part and hit (D) on the voting machines and paper ballots in 2008.
Phil at 11:24AM on Jul 4th 2007
2. Keith Olberman is absolutely correct. This is honestly the most profound thing i have ever heard from any newsman. You can feel his emotion in this and i agree with everything he said. This administration and in part the republican party have become corrupt. Its time for a change.
Patrick at 1:04PM on Jul 4th 2007
3. Keith is absolutely correct in his appraisal of Bush and Cheney and in calling for their resignations.
Now it's time for us to back us his bravery by calling for their resignations ourselves.
Waiting unitl 2008 means more Americans will die, as well as Iraqis and we are losing more national security the longer these two are in power.
seastar at 1:44PM on Jul 4th 2007
4. there are heros and losers- mr. Olbermann you are the most trusted , truthful, patriotic, responsible journalist and I always feel comfortable that whatever you report, you report it with integrity,and it benefits our nation therefore you are my hero the losers are scumbags, uneducated, liars. unknowledgeable, big mouths, rude, fearful and hateful, the entire Fox news, specifically Sean Hannity, Chris Wallace, and Bill O'Reilly. The American people need the truth about the problems we are facing and you and others like Michael Moore, Bill Maher, Richard Dreyfuss,and Congressman Ron Paul give us that truth. Keep up the good work you are a true patriot.
dakar73 at 1:53PM on Jul 4th 2007
5. I really would like to see this guy's head explode. He even got a laugh on "Special Report". What a clown! This tirade completely proves he is a left-wing ideologue.
Wally Lind at 2:26PM on Jul 4th 2007
6. In response to Wally (6):
"This tirade completely proves he is a left-wing ideologue."
In the vein of "even paranoids have enemies", even left-wing ideologues, not unlike their right-wing ideologue counterparts, make a whole lot of sense sometimes.
In this case, your right-wing ideological wisdom is hidden beneath the (Karl) Rovian tactic of name-calling, insults and taunts instead of substance. Sounds like you've been suckling at the teat of the great right muse, Ann Coulter.
Liz at 2:53PM on Jul 4th 2007
7. I must take issue with Phil. The majority of this country has gone along with all of this, and why? Fear. One attack has scared the people of this country into cooperating, at least tacitly, with the rape of the constitution that these crypto-fascist "neocons" have instigated on behalf of the "war on terror".
What will the '08 elections do? Give us a chance to vote for what, exactly? The democratic party has proven itself to be strictly the party of political opportunism even while they remain incapable of taking advantage of any opportunity they are given. In fact, if this battle is not fought now, on the floor of congress,it will be fought in the campaigns and finally at the '08 convention. In that case there will not be even a shred left that could be identified as the 'Democratic Party'.
Call your congressman! It's time to crawl out of your hidey holes. Or, just stick a piccolo pete up your butt and have a Happy Fucking 4th of July, because you have reaped what you have sown.
tfitz1017 at 2:59PM on Jul 4th 2007
8. Just scanning channels, I was transfixed by this speech. so much so that I actually stood up and walked toward the TV. I stayed up to tape the rerun and copied it to DVD to keep. I never heard truth spoken to power like that by mainstream media, except a bit of it during the Katrina coverage--and most of that was also by Olbermann. I hope Bush/Cheney don't manage to do him in, for it.
Bumble1994 at 3:13PM on Jul 4th 2007
9. Re-post w/crx (somehow lost a few lines):
6. In response to Wally (6):
"This tirade completely proves he is a left-wing ideologue."
In the vein of "even paranoids have enemies", even left-wing ideologues, not unlike their right-wing ideologue counterparts, make a whole lot of sense sometimes. But Olbermann is not an idealogue of any kind unless you consider upholding the ideals and principles of this nation some sort of philosophical character flaw.
In this case, your right-wing ideological wisdom is hidden beneath the (Karl) Rovian tactic of name-calling, insults and taunts instead of substance. Sounds like you've been suckling at the teat of the great right muse, Ann Coulter.
I no more hope Keith's head explodes than your "Wally".
Liz at 3:39PM on Jul 4th 2007
10. Keith Olbermann was abhorrent in his remarks regarding our president in a time of war. Mr. Olmermann, you are truly a hostile, immature person, treading on treasonist grounds. You could literally see all the hatred coming from your mouth, eyes and ears. I hope you looked at yourself closely. It was a pitiful sight. I don't know what else anyone can do to convince you that Libby did not leak Valerie Plame. You just can't turn loose of that, can you? God help us as a nation if the majority of Americans fall in line with you. I don't believe for a minute that is true.
Wanda Kidd at 7:48PM on Jul 4th 2007
11. Wanda -- Of course Libby leaked V. Flame's name. But he lied about it, so it could not be proved in a court of law. That's called -- obstructing
justice. Why not just release the name of EVERY covert C.I.A. agent to the press?
P.S. Bush and Cheney are incompetent. They are destroying this country.
They should resign. WAKE UP! Think for yourself.
Seth Winston at 10:11PM on Jul 4th 2007
12. Wanda #10 -
What you are seeing is a whole bunch of people who have had enough.
When we have to watch our Constitution and our environment be trashed while listening to words like "freedom" "clear skies" etc. there is only so much one can take before one snaps.
The BCF has not only supercharged terrorist recruits, it has created hundreds of thousands of pissed off, had it up to here citizens who are not going to back down until this band of thugs are held accountable for all the lies, crimes and murders they've committed IN OUR NAME.
I am 52 years old and I have never hated in my life as much as I HATE what these thugs are doing to OUR country -- not to mention the world.
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.
jen at 11:05PM on Jul 4th 2007
13. I watch Keith, but then, I also watch Jim Carey and Don Rickles, other over the top personalities. Keith is ok when he's nasty/funny, but he's insufferable when he gets on his soapbox and attempts to tell me how "we" feel about President Bush. I'm part of "the American people..." that Keith claims always agree with his world view. However, I rarely agree with Keith's distorted view of politics. If you want a more reasoned analysis of the President's decision to commute but not pardon Mr. Libby, read Tuesday's Washington Post editorial, and/or the op/ed by a former presidential counsel. They both agree that the commute was the right thing to do.
flak4af at 11:17PM on Jul 4th 2007
14. I have been a republican all of my life and remain one to this day but I'm really upset at how this administration has handled everything from the national debt, out of control spending, violation of civil rights, and especially the stubbornness to change the plan in Iraq. Now he does his buddy a favor and keeps him out of jail where he belongs for lying under oath. Our judicial system is the foundation that holds this country together because no matter how much money you have, what your last name is, or who your friends are everybody is treated as an equal. At least thats how its supposed to be, but as Olbermann pointed out George Bush is no longer the president for the people and doesn't deserve the title. It makes me sick to my stomach that I am saying what liberals have been saying for a few years now but I think its finally time to impeach.
Jack at 11:31PM on Jul 4th 2007
15. Post 10, by Wanda Kidd, states that Olermann is "treading on treasonist grounds" in his criticism of the President.
Wanda, have you ever heard of the first amendment? Criticizing the President is not treasonous, it is a right our founding fathers were willing to die for. Wanda is only an example of the Republicans who ignore the Constitution when it suits them. Violating the 4th amendment with their illegal wiretappings? Violating the 8th amendment with their torture? In fact, the only amendment in the Bill of Rights that the necons seem to recognize is the 2nd (right to bear arms). But no, its ok, they do this in order to secure our freedom from terrorists.
As Benjamin Franklin once said, Someone willing to sacrifice liberty in order to secure freedom deserves neither.
I am also tired of the necons tying patriotism with support of the government. I'd like to share a quote by a deputy to Adolph Hitler. The deputy is talking about how to get an entire country to support going to war. How did the Nazi deputy suggest going about this?
"Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is to tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country."
Now I am not saying the Republicans are the same as Nazis, but this administration's use of tactics used by Nazi Germany is something that just gets my blood boiling.
Jon at 12:24AM on Jul 5th 2007